Senate replaces Natasha as Diaspora Committee Chair amid legal setback, disciplinary rulings

The Nigerian Senate has officially removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations, capping months of controversy and legal wrangling surrounding the embattled lawmaker.

The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary session.

In her place, Senator Aniekan Bassey (APC, Akwa Ibom North-East), a former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has been appointed as the new committee chair.

The leadership change comes in the wake of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension earlier in the year, following allegations of misconduct and public defamation of the Senate.

Though specific details were not disclosed at the time of suspension, Senate leadership cited “repeated breaches of parliamentary decorum, insubordination, and conduct unbecoming of a senator.”

The situation escalated into a legal battle, but recent court decisions have largely sided with the Senate. In a ruling delivered last Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s application challenging the suspension and fined her N5 million for contempt.

Justice James Omotosho held that the senator acted in bad faith by continuing to publicly comment on a matter still before the court and for attempting to undermine both the judiciary and the Senate’s authority.

The court further ordered her to publish a formal apology to the Senate in two national dailies and on her verified Facebook page, which she had used to criticize the institution.

A second judgment on Monday, also from a Federal High Court in Abuja, reaffirmed the Senate’s constitutional right to discipline its members. The judge ruled that the Senate acted within its powers to safeguard institutional integrity and enforce internal discipline when threatened by a member’s conduct.

READ ALSO: Court orders Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declares six-month suspension excessive

Speaking with journalists after plenary, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) stressed that the replacement of Senator Natasha was not politically motivated, but part of a broader internal restructuring.

“The Senate is an institution governed by rules,” Adaramodu said. “No individual, no matter how influential or popular, is above those rules. The new appointment will ensure that the work of the Committee on Diaspora and NGOs continues without disruption.”

With his appointment, Senator Aniekan Bassey brings both legislative experience and party alignment to the role, being a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

His leadership is expected to provide stability and continuity for a committee tasked with critical engagement with Nigeria’s diaspora and oversight of civil society organizations.

Political analysts say the reshuffle reflects a Senate keen on reasserting institutional discipline and reinforcing internal accountability, particularly in the wake of heightened public scrutiny and social media activism by members.

As the controversy around Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continues to generate debate, the Senate appears intent on sending a clear message: parliamentary privilege must be exercised within the bounds of decorum, accountability, and respect for institutional processes.